Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Comments on the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement

I quickly read the JPEPA agreement signed by both countries. I still haven't made up my mind, but my quick reading of all the links below indicate that:

1. The environmental dumping is unfounded. The international treaties the Philippines has signed as well as the tedious environmental impact assessment (EIA) process will prevent or discourage this. It can still be done, but the proponents will spend a lot, probably bribe government officials, to get it implemented.

2. Competition- I don't know what Japan can dump on us. China can dump a lot of cheap goods, while the US can dump their agricultural products on us. Japan. I think they are too high-tech in what they export. Both countries export different products in different market segments.

On owning companies in the Philippines, that is called foreign investment. It is desirable as long as they hire Filipinos, pay living wages, follow Philippine laws, pay taxes, and bring in needed technology. The goal is employment, increased domestic consumption and to encourage local business.

On fishing companies, do you know what the environmental and labor records are of local fishing companies? Not something to be proud of...

I am disgusted though at the barbarian Japanese (and some Filipino) practice of whale and dolphin hunting...

3. I am a bit concerned with intellectual property, especially of our biodiveristy resources. Biotech is the BIG thing in the coming decades. The Philippines should be a research and development leader in this area. Japan wants to be a global leader in competition with the US and Europe. We should partner with any of these three. Who will give the best offer? Who will make us a partner on equal footing?

4. The Philippines should work for easy movement of labor, because that is what we are competitive in, our human resources. The JPEPA provides for this.

5. What no one has commented on or written about is a page-by-page comparison between the JPEPA and the other economic agreements that Japan has signed with other countries. Why not? If not done, this is a serious strategic blunder by Philippine negotiators.

6. Lastly, the JPEPA was signed last year by both countries. The issue now is Senate ratification. Medyo, last two minutes na ito. I find it a bit late to demand changes or abrogation. Last minute palagi, bakit?

The signed JPEPA agreement to be ratified by the Philippine Senate can be found at: http://pcij.org/blog/wp-docs/JPEPA.pdf

here's something concrete that you can really do. Go to the Senate Hearing on Dec 13 or at the very least write to these senators.

JPEPA is a real threat - not just to marine ecology, but our mountains, forests and ultimately, to our Constitution.

Here's something to mull over - if ratified, the Japanese can bring in toxc waste - WITH ZERO TARIFF. Over 200 other items can come in with zero tariff. Japanese can own 100% of companies, including fishing companies. You may want to take a look at these sites to make things clearer:

Let's rally people to come to the Senate hearing on Dec. 13. Or rally people to call or email our Senators :

Pretty sure that these sentators are against the ratification of JPEPA: Jamby, the 2 Cayetanos, Pimentel, Trillanes (but will he be allowed to vote?)

We think anti but just to make sure:

Villar, Honasan, Lacson, Estrada, Escudero, Legarda.

We don't know about these:

Biazon, Aquino, Pangilinan, Arroyo, Roxas, Gordon, Zubiri (he asked the environmtal groups to support him the last election. He should support the environmental groups on this one), Enrile, Revilla and Lapid, Angara, Miriam.

The Senate hearings are at 10am, the hearings open to the public. By law. The Senate building is at the Roxas Blvd area. Next to GSIS and the Manila Film Center at the CCP complex.